MSU student from Immokalee in recovery, spleen removed, organs damaged
A Michigan State University student from Immokalee has taken her first steps on the way to recovery after a Feb. 13 mass shooting on the East Lansing campus, her sister announced through a GoFundMe post.
Selena Huapilla-Perez organized a GoFundMe for her sister, Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez, 21, who was among eight students shot Feb. 13. Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez was one of five students critically injured following the shooting. Three died.
"First and foremost, thank you, muchas gracias," the family wrote on GoFundMe. "There will never be the words to truly express our gratitude for the colossal support and solidarity poured into our family in the last week."
Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez was shot twice. One of the bullets impacted five major organs, the family said.
"Unfortunately, her spleen was the organ that received the immediate impact and had to be removed," they said, adding her lungs, colon, stomach, and diaphragm were struck.
"Because of the trauma her organs received during the shooting followed by the trauma of a major surgery like the one she went through, doctors tell us her organs will take some time before they can perform their functions again," they wrote. "She is making slow and steady progress. She is mostly off of all the tubes she had the first day we arrived."
Prior:Michigan State shooting: Collier County woman identified among critically injured victims
Families reflect:Deadly hit, run crash pursuit follows Connecticut suspect to Marco Island
At the time, Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez was attending her weekly IAH211C class, "Area Studies and Multicultural Civilizations: The Americas," in Berkey Hall. The class was held that evening between 7 p.m. and 8:50 p.m., according to the fundraiser.
"When we heard that Lupita was one of the victims of the shooting we did not know the extent of her wounds, and we wouldn't know till hours later," the family wrote. "Soon after paramedics arrived to Berkey Hall she was taken to the hospital and had to undergo surgery immediately."
After everything went on lockdown following the shooting, the family said nobody could answer their questions.
"We thought the next time we'd reunite all together as a family at Michigan State's campus would be for Guadalupe's graduation day," the update reads. "We never imagined being back under these circumstances."
Doctors are working with Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez to exercise her lungs and get them to breathe independently.
"She has also started physical therapy," the family said. "She's been able to get out of her bed on a walker and with support, walk to the door of her room and back. Though the physical side of her recovery is showing small improvement, her mental and emotional side will be its own challenge."
They say remembering that night and talking about it bring sadness, anxiety and fear. When she was able to talk, the family said she first asked about her classmates' condition.
"As happy as we are seeing her make small improvements, we cannot deny that we are still pained and heartbroken because she should not be here in a hospital," the family wrote. "Lupita and her classmates should have been safe."
They added their hope is that Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez will continue her recovery in Florida.
"Once she is able to, Lupe looks forward to being able to go home to Florida and continue recovery there in the comfort of our home," they wrote. "She is still motivated to finish her classes for the semester but at the moment, we are encouraging her to take her recovery one day at a time."
The GoFundMe has raised more than $450,000 from 10,800 donors through early Wednesday afternoon, far exceeding the $50,000 goal.
Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez is a junior majoring in hospitality business, as well as a student in the Michigan State University College Assistance Migrant Program (or CAMP), according to the fundraiser. The CAMP program began in 2000, and for years Immokalee students venture north to East Lansing to receive their college education.
The Huapilla-Perez family said the process for a full recovery will take "months of care and subsequent rehabilitation."
The mass shooting left three MSU students dead in addition to the five wounded. Killed were junior Alexandria Verner, junior Arielle Diamond Anderson and sophomore Brian Fraser.
Out of the five wounded students, the latest update provided by university officials indicates one is in fair condition; two are in serious but stable condition; and two remain critical.
Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Twitter @TomasFRoBeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Immokalee student now on walker after MSU mass shooting
